21 comments:

"someone from my team" must be code for "a few lusty Rafanatics from DtL to be waiting for me at my hotel room ready to play strip playstation, undies optional. Less to worry about taking off, no? I might bring Gilles too!"

Yes, that must be it. It sounds just like him. If he brings Tommy Haat, I mean Haas, dibs on him. That must be what he meant by bringing 4 with him. Tommy, Gilles...and who else??? I vote for Ross or Dokic coach (who cares what his name is.)

Yes, there was a time when I also suspected Xisca to be a beard. Now, I don't know. That's why I said that about Xisca. It's strange that he didn't include her. By the way, would any of you be so kind as to explain to me the origin of "beard"? English is not my first language and, although I know what it means, I don't know where it came from. Thanks in advance!

Anon,He probably didn't mention Xisca because he doesn't speak about her very much. I think he's trying to keep his private life, well...private. Like I said, gay or straight, I wouldn't kick him out of bed.

Beard is the facial hair a man grows. Back in the day, it could be used as a disguise to hide the man's true identity. A man might grow a beard or wear a false beard and glasses to avoid detection. That's why the word "beard" is used. I hope that helps. I tried to keep my English simple to help. :)

Thanks, Anon. You know what? I didn't do a very good job describing beard. I was trying to separate the way it was used in the past to physically disguise a man, compared to today's use. I think a better example would be Saddam Hussein. When the Americans were looking for him, he grew a beard and his hair out, so he couldn't be easily identified. Now, we use "beard" to describe a woman posing as a closeted gay man's girlfriend. In other words, he doesn't want the fact that he's gay to be revealed, so she becomes his "beard". I hope that makes better sense.

Natch, you did a good job the first time, I understood what you meant. Thanks again! I guess there must be more than one beard in the tennis world. It seems to be difficult for a pro athlete to come out of the closet, and that's sad.

"someone from my team" must be code for "a few lusty Rafanatics from DtL to be waiting for me at my hotel room ready to play strip playstation, undies optional. Less to worry about taking off, no? I might bring Gilles too!"